Jon & Kate

For the last few weeks I have been following the Jon and Kate Gosselin saga (from TLC's Jon & Kate plus 8). I've debated about blogging on the topic a few times, just because I feel like my post only adds to the drama their lives are currently surrounded by.

The tabloids are all over this family... and as much as I wanted to not believe a word I read about Jon Gosselin's alleged affair/misbehaving, last night's season 5 premiere of their show cemented the fact that the couple is having major issues.

I am a BIG fan of this show... I truly love sitting down and watching multiple episodes of this family's daily activities unfold on television. I loved this family before becoming a parent... but now that I am a Mom, I love them even more as I am able to keep my own parenting issues in check when I watch their show.

From their first season to now... yes their lives have changed dramatically, so naturally they've changed as people too, but I was truly sad last night watching the premiere. Kate Gosselin in other seasons and other public appearances seems to be such a strong, outspoken, put together voice of the Gosselin family. But, last night, and in recent solo interviews, you can see that she is hurting, she is angry, yet she still wants to go on with the show (so the speak) for her kids. She is more soft spoken, more apologetic... she realizes she is not perfect and that she has been hard on her husband in recent years, and you can see just how it is taking a toll on her as a mother and as a woman.

I know there are MANY critics out there constantly write about Kate Gosselin and how poorly they think she treats Jon. The critics also report on how Jon & Kate don't work, they get everything for free, they are expoliting their kid's childhood, etc. Kate is loved to be hated, but I in my opinion she does not deserved to be criticized for being a mother who loves her kids and only wants the best for them, and having said that, either does Jon.

For Christmas, I received their book 'Mulitple Blessings'... I was actually surprised to find out just how religious this family is, as it wasn't apparant to me in the first 3 or 4 seasons of their show. I think this book showed me that they had endure quite a bit in the beginning of their family life to get to the success they are experiencing now. Its sort of a rags to riches story guided by their higher power... and I hope now that they will use their faith to come together - for the sake of their children.

I think I want to see them work out their marital issues, but last night I was not convinced that they are going to do this. The fact that they won't interview together anymore, and that either of them can really put into words (on television) what the other one requires in order to move forward tells me that this may be the last we see of the Gosselin family.

I will be watching Season 5 intently, while at the same time saying a little prayer for them... hoping that out of the tabloid spotlight they can work out their differences and come to an agreement that is best for them and best for their children.

Hello Daytime Television

Now that I am home during the day, I seem to be catching more 'daytime tv'. Lately this does include me rekindling my relationship with daytime soap operas, such as Young and the Restless, As the World Turns, General Hospital, and the odd episodes of Days of Our Lives and Bold and the Beautiful.

I love the fact that I haven't watched Days of Our Lives in about 10 years, yet I still know the characters and can still pick up the story lines about 10 minutes into an episode. I was not shocked to find out that Stephano Dimera is still alive, after he was thought to be dead for about the 40th time.

Above and beyond daytime soap operas, daytime tv also consists of the standard talk shows. I have always been a fan of Oprah... and I can take or leave Dr. Phil, but Dr. Phil has endorsed a new daytime show called 'The Doctors'. Normally I wouldn't really be attracted to this type of show... its similar to Oprah's Dr. Oz shows, and I frankly lose interest in Dr. Oz pretty easily. However... when I saw an episode of The Doctors on Global the other afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the host of the show is non-other than ex-bachelor Travis Stork.

You may recall my strong affection for The Bachelor/Bachelorette show... Travis Stork was no disappointment to me in the Bachelor series - although like many bachelors before him, he never did end up marrying the final rose candidate, but nonetheless, he made the show entertaining.

I am pretty sure when I started watching The Doctors I would have keep channel surfing, if it weren't for him. It was almost like a car accident ... he is a BRUTAL host, but I couldn't help but watch him! I actually didn't mind the show topics, even with the bad hosting. There were a few interesting topics on caffeine, pregnancy, etc... and it has kept my interest so far - well, Dr. Stork has kept my interest when he's talking about these topics.

But, I have to wonder if this show will satisfy an audience for very long... Dr. Stork is a good initial attraction, but after that, I am not sure if this show will go the distance. I did see an ad today that deemed it the best new talk show of the season (although, I don't know of any other new talk shows this season, so it may be the lone candidate in this category!).

Check out an episode if you can, and let me know what you think!

Love love LOVED the Bachelorette this season!

So I have been HOOKED on this season of The Bachelorette big time... I have to admit, the Bachelor/Bachelorette series is one my guiltiest tv pleasures... (ever since University when my partner in crime Erin Boyd and I did our own little study on the Bachelor series for an audience research class).

This season of the Bachelorette has just been soooooooooooooo good. I know I know... its a reality tv series, and its kind of unthinkable that a girl could date 25 guys in a six-week time period and end up engaged to one of them at the end, but I am sucker for love stories - and even if the relationship goes south a month or two after the show ends, I still fall in love with the thought of these people falling head over heels in love.

This season, DeAnna Pappas ended up choosing a snowboarder from Colorado - the most unlikely of candidates at the beginning of the show... but as the show progressed, she ended up falling for the 'rad' snowboarder Jesse Csincsak. I was actually disappointed that she chose him over the other final candidate, Jason Mesnick - he seemed like he had all the right pieces to make up the 'perfect' husband - but in DeAnna's heart she felt Jesse was her soul mate - and she chose him, and accepted his marriage proposal!

I don't know what it is about this show, but I just get so caught up in it, I love LOVE I guess - and I think to see people falling in love on tv just renews my faith in my own relationship, because everyone remembers how great the beginning of a relationship is, and shows like this just remind me what it was like in the beginning for PC and I! No - not the helicopter rides, and horse drawn carriages, or the private concerts by superstars - but just the feeling of the first kiss, the falling for someone, the wondering what it would be like to be with this person long term. This show has all of the elements of what relationships are like in the beginning - and that's the part I love!

They should probably do another show about 3 years time (if these couples ever make it that far), and remind people of what a relationship is like after the initial honeymoon phase of a relationship is over as I imagine it wouldn't be all that glamorous - but that's besides the point, for now I just love this show - and as stupid and unrealistic as it may be - I hope they air it for another 10 or 15 seasons, as I will watch every single season!

Did any of you get hooked on the Bachelorette this season, or any other seasons of the Bachelor? Are you a sucker for love like me, or are you rather unimpressed that networks like ABC would waste precious airtime on something like this?

P.S. Birthday wishes go out to faithful reader Erin Boyd today, and as well, my sister who celebrated her b-day on Sunday!! Happy Birthday ladies!